Crisis

Awards

Grand Prize, ‘The Crossroads’ Music Composition Competition, organised by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Timothy Tsang interview with RTHK Radio 4 - Musicians' Terrace

In this RTHK interview, Timothy Tsang provides insights into the creation of his award-winning composition 'Crisis.'

香港電台第四台 (FM97.6) 樂事逸台 30.07.2022

RTHK Radio 4 (FM97.6) Musicians' Terrace 30.07.2022

John F. Kennedy once observed that the word "crisis" in Chinese is composed of two characters-one representing danger, the other opportunity. He may not have been entirely correct on the linguistics, but the sentiment is true enough: a crisis presents a choice.

In the first section, which is the introduction, the music starts in the key of D minor, the use of slow tempo and sforzando represent the gradual formation of a storm, and the contrasting dynamics create a tense atmosphere of a crisis to be brewing.

The second section begins with the violins playing a 4-bar theme, the cello quickly responds with octaves: then the second violin plays syncopated melodies echoing the first violin. In the second half of this section, the cello starts the second theme with a lively melody in F major, showing a turning point or an opportunity in the difficult situation.

The third section begins with the violins playing a mysterious 2-bar theme in A minor while the viola and the cello are playing countermelodies or accompaniments in pizzicato. The piece modulates from A minor to F major, indicates a certain road suddenly pop-up ahead but it is a mirage. In the second half, the key eventually modulates back to the original key, D minor. The modulations depict how the person strives for solving the crisis in multiple ways.

In the final section, the theme from the second section recapitulates with variations, indicating the crisis reappears with even more complicated conditions. A climax is built swiftly and pauses in a Neapolitan 6th chord, which is followed by the piece finally ending with a pizzicato. This reveals the crisis is settled in an unexpected and unusual way.

In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and emigration wave in Hong Kong has caused us to reflect on ourselves and reconsider our future, and we have to make a lot of decisions. Should we leave our birthplace or not? Where should we immigrate to? These ace all hard decisions, and careful consideration is needed. This piece is dedicated to all humans the crossroads in their lives, and hope all of you can overcome the crisis you are facing.